FROM THE LIBRARY OF
REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D
BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO
THE LIBRARY OF
PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
3C<C
~fttflHU
cc/t^ wejav&to^
Regular and Jkilful Mufic in the
Worfitp of GOD,1
Founded in the Law of Nature, and intro-
duced into his Worfhip, by his own infti-
tution, under both the Jewifh and Chriftian
Difpenfations $ s
Shewn in a
S E R M O N,
Preached at the
Nor th Meeting>-Houfe, N a vr n v K y -P o k r ,
At t k ff
Deflre. o£ the Church and Congregation,
Fbbruar? ^8th, 1774.
By OLIVER NOBLE, A, M.
Paftor of a Church in Newbury.
Printed at the Deflre of the Mufical Society >
In Newbury-Port.
And of a Number or
Gentlemen and Ladies who heard it.
Yhen fang Motes and the Children of IYrael this Song. MOSES;
Come before his Prefence with Singing. King DAVID.
t will fing with the Spirit, and with, the Undemanding. PAUL
BOSTON:
Printed by Mills and 'Hicks, for Daniel Baylsy, ia
Newbury-Pcrt, 1774,
DEDICATION,
TO the Church and Con-
gregation that ufiially
worfhip in the North
Meeting-Houfe, Newbury-
Port y and to the Mufical
Society in faid Town ; and
to the Singing Men and Sing-
ing Women, wherever this
lhall come;— This Sermon
is humbly dedicated, by±
their moft L
Obedient and
humble
Servant,
for Jefus's
Sake,
The Author.
A
DISCOURE on MUSIC, &c
I. C H II O N. xv. 22.
u4nd Chenaniah, Chief of the Levites, was
for Songs; he inftrutted about the Song ,
becanfe he was fkilful.
THAT the blefled God, the author
of nature, the God of providence
and grace, the Lord of angels
and men, fhould be worlhipped
with praife and thankfgiving by all intelli-
gencies, is founded in the moral and un-
changeable fitnefs of things, and belongs
to the religion or law of nature ; and will re~
main binding upon all moral beings, as long
as the relation of Creator and creature fub-
fifts.
Our account of the duty of praifing God
with the voice of melody, or finging forth
the praifes of the Almighty, is coeval with
creation itfelf . For when God had finifhed
the flupendious work of creation, and had ta-
ken, as it were, a retrofpeft of the grand
machine, and faw that all was very good,
all fuited to his divine and infinite plan, and
had pronounced it fo in the prefence of the
heavenly
L 4 j
heavenly hoft ; the heavenly Choir celebrat-
ed the workmanfhip, and worfhipped and
glorified the infinite Workman, in a Jong of
praife, as the moft proper and fublime way
of praifing, and worshipping God,
For, and on that great occafion, the an*-
gels (who are called morning ftars, and fons
of God) fang together and jbouted for joy.
That is, they expreffed their praife in a vocal
anthem. — And indeed, it feems to be a kind
of natural worfhip, that forces itfelf upon the
intelligent mind : The obligation to which,
feems to be written on the heart ; that has
always excited all moral beings, that have
had any true fenfe of God upon their minds,
to exprefs their homage to him with their
voice in fongs of praife. For we find the
people of God in the early ages of the wc-ritr^
exprefling their homage to God this way ; and
that before there were any pofitive inftitu-
tions of God about this part of worfhip . This
is evident, not only from the account we have
of that memorable tranfaction at the Red Sea ;
but at other times, and on other occafions.
Vocal Mufic is, in itfelf a noble and fublime
art, and an fwers fublime purpofes ; efpecially
when it takes a ferious and facred turn, and
is employed in the worfhip and praife of God.
It has not only been revered, honored, learned,
and praftifed, by the greateft, wifeft, and beft
of men in all ages, as that which ennobles the
foul
C s 1
foul of man, raifes its ideas, and fweetly calms
the rougher pafMons, and furprifingly pre-
pares the mind for the fublimeft, and moll
vigorous exertions and meditations ; but thi$
excellent art, has been introduced into the
worfhip of God by his oivn fpecial inftitution,
under hoth difpenfations : Which adds dig-
nity to it, and gives weight to the fubjeCi ;
and which ihould animate all that are capable
of it, to a facred ambition to learn, in fome
good meafure, this important art, and to get
{kill in muiic, efpecially in pfalmody \ and
to ufe it well, in the praife of their God, and
to the honor of their Redeemer, and to their
own, and others edification.
The bleffed God was long worfhipped by
facrifices, before he was pleafed to fettle their
nuuiber, kind, quality, and the manner of fa-
crificing as we find them in the Jewifh law,
inftituted of God, by Mofes, his fervant. So
it was with this part of worfhip of which we
are treating : — Though it is founded in the mo-
ral reafon, and unchangeable -/ft«e?/i of things,
and the obligations to vocal praife inforced
by the law of nature ; yet God was pleafed to
give particular orders about it, and to regu-
late its form and manner by fpecial command
and inftitution . This he did in particular in
the time of David that great and excellent
King of Ifrael ; under that great Maftcr of
divine mujic^ the wan after God's own heart.
The
[ 6 ]
The blefTed God was pleafed, as it were, to
fettle the mufical part of his worfhip, under
the countenance and infpeclion, of his favo-
rite King ; toko himfelf was the moft fweet
pfahniji and finger of Jfrael. He therefore
gave particular orders and directions about
this fublime part of the worfhip of the Lord
in his f anCluary ; that the facred fong might
be managed decently, and in order, to the
honor of God, and to the edification of the
pious and devout worfliipper. And to this
end, a very confiderable number, both of
finging men, and ringing women, were ap-
pointed, to lead in*, if not wholly to perform
this part of divine worfhip. And they were to
devote their time, and talents, to the employ-
ment, or to qualify themfelves for it. They
were to make divine mufic, and the art and
knowledge of it, their principal bu fine fs. *f
This was, that they might be Jhilful in mufic,
and know how to manage the facred fong in
the beft manner, that the praifes of the Lord
might be fung in all its parts, in various chords
and proportions of mufical found ; that it
might be calculated, to ennoble the foul, to
warm the heart, and to wrap every power in
facred
• I am not certain but that the congregation of the Lord
joined with the fingers in the public worfhip of praife, under
ihe Jewifh difpenfation, efpecially thofe whofe voices were to-
lerably formed to mufic ; though a late ingenious writer is of
a different opinion.
f This appears from their having a public nuuMCfianCC
allowed them, as r^s friefts. had, fftf, xi, *3<
C 7 3
facred devotion. Though the inftru&ions
about the divine mufic, that we find recorded
in this chapter, relate more especially to 3.
particular occafion, viz. that of bringing
back the Ark of God, and fitting of it in the
place that King David had prepared for it 5
yet we find the fame care about the order
and regularity of mufic, continued in the
ftated worihip of God, all along under the
Jewifh ceconomy. That it wajs not of hu-
man invention, or meerly by the command
of Davids the King ; but by the command of
God, and having the ftamp of divine appoint-
ment, fhall be confidered in the fequel. What
has been already faid opens the way for a
more particular confideration of the text.
*c And Chcnaniah, chief of the Levites, was
for fongs." Can it be a queftion, what Jongs.
thefe were, that he was to be mafter of, and
to manage with beauty and order f Surely no,
the point is obvious ; they were the fongs
and pfalms of the Lord, compofed by holy
men of old , under the guidance of the Holy-
Ghoft ; defigned and adapted to worfhip and
glorify- the God of Ifrael. And to this end,
they had not only the fongs of Mofes, and
others that were infpired by the facred fpirit,
Jet to mujic ; but David himfelf^ the fvveet
finger of Ifrael, was moved by the Holy-
Ghoft: to compofe many divine pfalms and fa-
cred hymns, which he either fet to mufic
himfelf
t 8 3
himfeif, or commited them to feveral fkilfut
matters of mufic for this purpofe j that they
might be fung with fk.il! , and made ufe of in
the public worfhip of God •
Such a matter of mufic was Chenaniah,
mentioned in the text, and it is worth our
notice in this place that he was chief of the
Levites : That he fuftained one of the firft
characters for honor and dignity in the king-
dom of Ifrael $ yet, notwithstanding, fo no-
ble, fo excellent was the art of mufic, efteem-
ed in that day, efpecially divine mufic , to be
employed in the worfhip, and to the honor of
the true and living God ; that the greateft
perfonages of the age did not think it below
their dignity to apply themfclves to, and
fpend much of their time in the fludy and
practice of it.
King David himfeif, though one of the
greateft monarchs of the age in which he
lived, though he was poflefled with a capa-
cious mind, and was remarkable for his wif-
dom, for his prudence, as well as for his va-
lor, power and authority ; was no lefs re-
markable for his piety and clofe attachment
to the worfhip of God and a moft fervent
promoter of it in every part, and is memo-
rable for his /kill and zeal in this excellent
part ; that it might be performed by rule,
with (kill, with decency and order, fo as to
anfwer in the beft manner the good ends of
its appointment. And
C 9 ]
And with this view was Chcnaniah appoint-
ed maftei of the facred fongs of the Lord ;
in the original it is, he was a lifter up of the
fongs, it is, as if it was laid, that he was the
moderator of the facred mufic, l« t* he not
only directed about the tunes and parts
thereof, composing fome and choofing others,
adapted to the meafure, nature and foleni-
nity of the pfklm, and fong to be made ufe
of in the worfhip of God, on this, or that
occafion, fo that the melody might be fweet
and engaging, fuited to raife the foul to the
higheft pitch of devotion ; but he took pains
with, and inftructed the fingers, how to lift
up their voices together in harmony, on the
various parts that he afligned them, fo that
the various notes mould chord, and afford the
fweeteft mufic to the ear ; that by this means
the divine inftruction of the fong, or the mat-
ter of the pfalm, might find the readieft ac-
cefs to the heart, and better the foul by raif-
ing it to God, and directing all the defires
and affections, to things divine and heavenly.
Thus much at lead, is fiiggefled to us, by
his being the lifter up of the facred fongs of
the Lord, and inftructing about them, be-
caufe he was flulful. For this is the reafort
given, why he was afligned to this honorable
employ ; why, he was appointed moderator
of this part of God's worfhip, and to fit and
qualify others for this excellent bufinefs, by
B inftructing
[ io ]
inftru&ing them in this fublime art. It was
becaufe be was fkilful ; q. d. he was well
qualified to regulate the time and movement
of the facred fong, becaufe he entered into
the fpirit and defign of this method of praif-
ing and worfhipping the God of Ifrael ; not
only fo, but he well underftood the fcale of
mufic, and was ready at theufe of it, and apt
to teach others the regular and harmonious
performance of the duty, that it might be
acceptable to God, and well anfwer the ends
of its inftitution* with regard to men, their
comfort and edification*
This fhort paffage of infpiration affords ns
the following fentiments, which I think are
either exprefTcd, or fairly implied, viz.
That praifing God with the voice as well
as with the heart, or fin gin g forth his praif-
es with the voice of melody, and that with
fkill, gracefulnefs and harmony ; is a duty
of great importance, and incumbent upon all
that are capable of it : Founded in the moral
fitnefs of things^ enforced by the fpecial in-
ftitution of God , and binding upon the chrif-
tian, as well as l he Jewifh church and people
of God. That the duty is founded in the
reafon and unchangeable fitnefs of things, and
taught us by the law of nature, may appear
not only, from the relation there is between
God and the creature, but from the fenti-
ments and practice of men, on great and
weighty
weighty occafions, while under the guidance
and direction of reafon, and natural conference
only. Natural reafon without, and before
there was any pofitive institution of God,
about the matter, has proved fufficient to
teach men that they could no way fo pro-
perly exprefs the earned defires and warm
emotions of their fouls, in pious gratitude and
jpy, as in the fymphony of foitg, and ani-
mating chords of mufic.
This is not only evident from many tcfli*
monies that might be brought from profane
hiftory, but from the fketches we often find
in the (acred records ; where we find that
pious men of old, without any fpecial direc-
tion of God about it, and meerly from the
dictates of their own minds ; on great and
animating occafions, break forth into finging,
and expreffed their religious thankfulnefs, in
fongs of praife to the Rock of their falvation.
This was undeniably the cafe, with Mofes and
the children of lfrael at the Red Sea , then
fang Mofes and the children of lfrael this
fong. And it does not appear, that as yet
there was any divine inftitution about this
part of the worfhip, but otherwife, that it
was the natural overflowings of their pious
joy and thankfulnefs on. that great occajion^
and the dictates of reafon and natural confer-
ence, that expreffed itjb/fm muiic, and direct-
ed them thii6 to. fing God's praife,
I
[ 12 ]
I might mention a like inftance at the well
of Beer, where the people of God, being de-
livered from diftreffing thirft, brake forth into
fongs of praife ; worfhipping the God of their
falvation with vocal mufic ; andmoft likely the
fongs of Deborah, and Barak were of the
fame kind. But I (hall not enlarge upon this
thought. — I am next to obferve, that this
excellent and fublime art of muijc, was in-
troduced into the ancient church of God, by
his own fpecial appointment , and made a ne-
ceflary and important part of his worfhip.
The great Creator of all things, having
wonderfully conftituted man, with regard to
the organs of ipeech and found, as well as
on other accounts, forming his voice in fnch
a manner that it is eafily tuned to various
notes of concord and harmony ; and having
imprefTed his very nature with a confcioufnefs
of ufing it in the praife of his Creator, was
plea fed, in his own time and way, to give
ipecial direction about it. And after he had
erected a church in the world, and from time
to time, had revealed his mind and will con-
cerning his worfhip, and fhewnhowhe would
be worfhipped, as well with regard to the man-
ner as matter of Worship, was alfo plea fed
to give fpecial command and direction about
this part of worfhip, directing that it mould
be performed in the beft manner, moft agree-
able to the nature of the duty, and to the
nature
C '3 3
nature of man ; i. e. with (kill and harmony
of the voice : That it might tend to roufe
a fpirit of devotion in the mind of man, and
to elevate his foul in the praifes of his Creator
and Redeemer : And to this purpofe there
Mere a great number appointed to the facred
fervice, and were instructed in the art and
(kill of muiic under the belt mafters of the
age ; that in the worfhip of God, it might be
performed without difcord or confufion, but
with decency and order ; for our God is a
God of older, not of confufion.
Now the obvious reafon, why fo much
(kill was to be exercifed in, and pains taken
about this part of worfliip was, to prevent
confufion and diforder, in a part of worfliip
where fo many were to lift up their voices to-
gether ; in a part, defigned and calculated to
reach inftruction to the foul, by the harmony
of Sou n d , and to warm the heart, in the ex-
ercife of true devotion ; which would be im-
poflible were it to be performed without rule,
fkill or order — Now to evidence that all this
care and pains about the tnufical part of God's
worfliip, which we find recorded in the text
and context, did not originate from the mere
humour of King David ;™but was by the ap-
pointment of the Lord, we need but turn yoa
to the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. For
upon the return of the captivity, in the days
of Ezra and Nehemiah, when %he true wor-
fliip
C 1.4 1
fhip of God was again fet up in Jerufalcm, and
the enquiry was Jiriclly made, what is that mo-
del the Lord -commanded us, by Mofes and the
Prophets : — The Singers in the worfhip of
God were appointed in their order, according
as we find it recorded in the text and con-
text ; and this is exprefsly faid to be as the
Lord had commanded, by the mouth of his
fervants, the Prophets ; and again it is laid
that Jehoiada, the prieit, appointed the
fingers in the worfhip of God ; as it wai
'written in the law of Mofes, and commanded
by David, the King : All which refer to what
is written in our text, and context, and to
the regulation of the facred mufic, under the
man after God's own heart : Which is fuffi-
cient to illuftrate the point, that voeal mufic
was introduced into the worfhip of God, by
his own inftitution \ and tha^ the Jcwifli
church were under not only moral, but pofitive
obligations, to perform it with all poflible re-
gularity and harmony, as well as with pious
frames of heart and religious exercife of foul.
But if the queftion fhould arife, is this
binding upon chrifiians f Or fhould any en-
quire, is it yet obligatory upon the church of
God under the chriftian difpenfation, to wor-
fhip God with the voice of melody, in finging
foith his praife ? To which I anfwer, that
the affirmative is fully evident, and may be
clearly illustrated, both from the reafons of
the
C i* 3
the inftltution, that ftill remain, and from the
pojitive teftimony of God in this matter,
found both in the old and new-teftaments.
Now, it is evident, that the reafons of the
duty ftill remain, and always will, as to fub-
ftance ; though it may vary as to fome cir-
cumftances. — The reafons of the duty, as to
fubftance, are of a moral nature ; originate
from the relation between the Creator and
creature * and will always continue, fo long as
that relation fubfifts. They depend upon the
unalterable fitnefs of things, and therefore
the reafons of the duty are unchangeable.
Therefore it follows, that as the reafons and
nature of the duty, were not peculiar to the
ftate and circumftances of the Jewifh church,
but of equal obligation under every difpen-
fation ; fo muft of confequence, have equal
weight with, and be equally binding upon
chriftians. Now, one obvious reafon why
finging with the voice of melody, was intro-
duced into the Jewifh church, and by divine
appointment made part of their religious wor-
fhip was, becaufe that this facred mufic had
a fir iking tendency, and peculiar force and
energy, to elevate the foul of man, and to
engage the mind in the moft fervent exercif-
es of religion ; and, as it were, to abforb it
in the warmeft raptures of devotion.
For nothing perhaps (in a way of means)
can have a greater tendency, to ajjimul 'ate the
humble
humble foul to God, and more and more
liken him tohisbleffed image, and raife every
power to the higheft pitch of gratitude,
praife and thankfgiving : And facred mufic
has evidently the fame bleffed tendency now,
it had of old, and for the fame reafons ; for
human nature is much the fame now, as it
was. then ; God is the fame yefterday, to-day,
ted for ever, and as worthy to be worfhipped
and praifed as ever he was, and pious obliga-
tion to do it is the fame, and (till remains ;
fo that, that which was the obvious reafon for
its being then inftituted, is as conclufive for,
its being now inftituted, and to continue bind-^^
upon the chriftian church .
And ifregular,fkilful, and harmonious ma-
nagment of the facred fong, in all its parts
and movements, had a tendency then to en-
kindle devotion, to warm the heart, and to
animate the foul, as it were to the raptures
of joy and gratitude ; — it has now, and for
the fame reafons ; and it is as binding
upon the chriftian, as it was upon the Jewifh
church and people of God.
It is readily granted, that there were
many things in the inftituted worfhip of
God's ancient church and people, that were
peculiar to them, and to that ftate and period
of the church, and have no place under the
chriftian difpenfation : And that becaufe the
reafons of this appointment do not now ob-
tain
C 17 3
tain, they being abolifhed by the coming and
kingdom of Chrift.
Such were all things purely ceremonial and
typical^ which are now entirely done away
by the coming of Chrift the antitype, and
the introduction of the gofpel ftate. And
indeed, it appears to me to be a very juft
and fafe way of determining what things
were ceremonial and what were not, what
were peculiar to the then ftate of the church,
and what were not ; by taking into our view
the particular reafons of the inftitution.
For thafe practices and ordinances that
had place then, not for reasons that were
peculiar to the Jews and that difpenfation,
but for reafons that are of equal weight
under every difpenfation, are no doubt bind-
ing under every difpenfation, and ought to
be— conformed to, by every ferious worfliip-
per of God. This reafoning is applicable to
the duty we are now confidering. Whatever
circumftances may differ, yet the fubjlance
or ejfence of the duty, remains ftill the fame,
and as binding upon us, as them ; and that
with regard to the general manner, as well
as matter of the duty, i. e. with gracefulnefs
and harmony, as well as with grace in our
hearts. — But further, the fame fentiment is
plainly taught us in the word of God. There
are feveral intimations to this amount in
the old-teftament, that fuggefts to us that
C this
C is 3
this duty of worfhipping and praifing God
with the voice of melody, was to be continued
under the gofpel difpenfation ; one or two of
which I fliall mention, that to me appear
to imply a command, and to make the
duty binding upon the church of God under
the gofpel difpenfation ; — particularly in the
iooth pfalm, make a joyful noife unto the
Lord, all j/e lands ; i. e. ye people of all
lands, — ferve the Lord with gladnefs ; — come
before his prefence with Jinging. This we
find is anaddrefs to all people, of all lands,
and at all times. It is allozved by all com-
mentators, and by the Jewifh Doctors and
Rabbies themfelves, That this pfalm has a
peculiar reference to the gofpel day, and ftate
of the church, and therefore, is a command
to chriftian wormippers to come before, or
into the prefence of the Lord, with Jinging,
and to pour out the gratitude and joy of their
hearts in harmony of found, in the charming
accents of Jhilful and zvellregulated mufic . But
it is time that I hint to you a few things,
that will afford us further light in this matter,
which we colled: from the new-teftament.
I fliall but mention the fongs of the bleffed
virgin, of Zachariah and Elizabeth, and of
good old Simeon, and others, that vented
the pious raptures of their fouls, in vocal
fongs of praife ; but fhall more particularly
confider the examples and teflimonies, that
Chrift
L 19 ]
Chrift and his apoftles have left us upon fa-
cred record. When the Lord Jefus, by his
example and command, had inftituted the
fucrament of the holy fupper, at the fame
time, did fignify, and fuggeft to us, that it
was his will that we fhould fing his praifes,
as a part of religious worfhip under the gof-
pel difpenfation : For he concluded the im-
portant, the inflructive celebration with a
f acred hymn- — Should it be objected, that
this is the only time we have any account of
our Saviour's finging as a part of divine wor-
ship, and fo it cannot be argued from thence,
that he would have his church fing as a part
of religious worfhip : In reply we may . ob-
ferve, that we have no account of his cele-
bration of the holy fupper at an}/ other time;
what then ? He no doubt left the whole for
our imitation, and hereby fully fijggefts to
us, that it is his will that we fhould worfhip
him by finging forth his praife.
Neither have we any account of his pray-
ing before, or after his fermons, What then ?
Why no doubt he was a conftant at tender on
the Jewifli temple worfhip ; of which fing-
ing was a conftant and important part, equal-
ly known, and equally binding as the duty of
prayer, or any other part of divine woribip.
But it will be to our purpofe %o comment
a little, upon what we find in the writings of
St. Paul, relating to this duty oi finging the
praifes
C 20 ]
praifes of God in our worfhip ; efpecially
fee to this purpofe the 14th chapter of his
firft epiftle to the Corinthians. — And it is
obferveable here, that the profeffed defigu of
this chapter is to regulate the worfhip of
God, fo that it might be performed decently,
and with order, he aims to reform feveral ir-
regularities in the worfhip of God, that had
fo foon crept into the church, that the chris-
tian worfhip might be guarded againft con-
fuiion and diforder ; and managed with that
decency and order that would have a ten-
dency to promote the declarative glory of
God, the honor of the Redeemer, and the
mutual edification of chriftian worfhippers.
And it is in this connection that he fays, /
will pray ivith the fpirit^ and Izvill pray with
the underftanding ; I will Jing with thefpirit*
and I will fing with the underftanding : And
he does not fay this only with reference to
himfelf, as what he refolved upon with re-
gard to his own conduct, but this is what he
enjoined upon the whole church of God in
his name, fpeaking with the authority of an
infpired apoftle.
And it is much to our purpofe, and worth
particular notice, that we find this great
apoftle fpeaking of finging as a well known
part of religious worfhip, in common and
ftated ufe and practice, equally known and
acknowledged with either praying or preach-
c 2i :
ing, and a duty equally binding upon the
chriftian church.
And here he lets us know that it fhould
be performed not only in the fpirit, but with
the voice, not only with a right temper
of mind, and with true devotion of heart,
but with underfi anding : Not only with un-
derstanding as to the matter and meaning of
the facred Jong , but as to the rule and man-
ner of its performance, i.e. with fkill and
harmony. This glofs upon the words is ea-
fiiy justified, from the fimilitude the apoftle
brings to illuftrate his argument, which is
taken from the defign and ufe of a trumpet
in war ; for if the trumpet gives an uncer-
tain found, who mall prepare himfelf for the
battle; i'. e. if the trumpet give an irregu-
lar, confufed, or uncertain found, it throws
the foldiers into confufion, and differ ves the
caufe which it was defigned to promote.
So it is with the vifible worfbip of God in
all the parts of it, if the whole affembly be
fpeaking or praying at one time, or all to-
gether, or ia an unknown tongue, it intro-
duces confufion ; though sve hear the found
the understanding is not inftructed, and the
heart cannot be bettered ; the affections are
not excited, devotion and pietv are not pro-
moted. The fame is obferveablc with regard
to ringing the praifes of God ; (the defign
of which part of worflrip is, that our voices
may
C M 1
may be lifted up together) there muft be
fome known and determinate method, or
mode of found) well underflood, in which we
can unite, or it cannot anfwer the purpofe of
edification : Therefore the praifes of the
Lord are to be fang forth, not in uncertain
founds, not in confufion and diforder, with
the harfh and jarring notes of difcord ; but
with harmony and concord, underftanding
the manner, as well as the matter of the fa-
cred fong.
For if, in finging the fongs of the Lord,
we do it in irregular and uncertain founds,
where is the harmony ? How fhall we ling
together ? How fhall we keep time and
movement together in this part of worfhip ?
How mall we underfland one another ? And
how is it poifible that we fliould be excited
hereby to devotion, and be mutually edified.
So it appears that by underftanding, the
apoftle means Jhill in the manner, as well as
underftanding in the matter, to be fung in
the worfhip of God ; and anfvvers to inftruc-
tion and (kill, mentioned in the text.
To the fame purpofe is that of the fame
apoftle to the Coloflians, iii. 16. where the
duty now under confideration is exprefsly
enjoined upon all chriftians in common, un-
der the go {pel difpenfation, viz. that they
teach and admonifh one another, in pfalms,
hymns and fpiritual fongs, finging -with grace
in
C 23 3
in their hearts unto the Lord. Though in
this paffage of fcripture, a gracious temper
of mind is enjoined, the neceffity and impor-
tance of grace in the heart inforced, in order
to the right performance of this duty ; which
indeed is the leading fe-ntiment in the right
performance of every duty. Yet he cannot
mean to exclude the harmony of the voice,
for the end aimed at depends upon its heing
vocal ; which is teaching and admonifhtng
one another : The external part of the duty
is taken for granted as a well known part of
worfliip ; but here the apoftle reminds us of
the better and internal part of it, viz. Grace
in the heart that fhould always accompany
the external performance of the duty, as the
beft method, in order to anfwer the great
and important end of the duty ; teaching
and admonifhing one another, that is, by
ftirring up gracious affections in ourfelves
and others, by the elevating accents of mu-
jic in fongs of praife, and by the united har-
mony of voice. Now it is evident this end
cannot be anfwered without ringing toge-
ther in a focial manner, and fkilfully uniting
our voices in the folemn, in the mnructive
fong.
Thus have I fhewn that the duty of prais-
ing God with the voice of melody, or iinging
forth his praife in fkilful and well regulated
miijic, is binding upon the chrifthvu church
and
C *4 ]
and people of God, as much as it was upon
the Jewifh, and is taught us in the fcriptures
both of the old and new teftaments. But*
perhaps it will be expected that on this oc-
caflon fomething fhould be faid, more parti-
cularly, concerning the manner, decency and
order of this part of divine worfhip.
We have fhewn already in this difcourfe
that finglng the praifes of God as an act of
worfhip, is a duty taught us, both by reafon
and fcripture ; but how frequent it is to be
practifed or how often we mould fing praife
when we come together for woifhip, is no
where pointed out in the word of God. But
it is to be a part of our public worfhip, and if
fo, why not a part of our family worfhip
for the fame reafons, it has the fame blefled
tendency to warm the heart, and to excite
fpiritual devotion in the family as well as in
the houfe of God. Since therefore the duty
it f elf is clearly taught us in the word of God,
and the frequency and fome other circum-
ftances are not, chriftian prudence muft di-
rect ; but reafon and conftant experience of
the benefits of it, urge us to frequency in
this foul-cheering and heart-animating duty.
But further, I fhall obferve, that in the
compofition of this difcourfe, I have attend-
ed to fome fcripture intimations that have
convinced my mind more than ever of the
propriety of beginning our public worfhip
with
with a fong of praife. That before men-
tioned paffage in the looth pfalm fuggefts
as much, come before his prefence with fing-
ing j which words in their plain and obvious
meaning, naturally lead us to conclude that
finging fhould be our firft employ when we
come into the prefence of the Lord ; that
we fhould begin his worfhip with this fublime
and holy exercife ; but let us take the fourth
verfe in connection with the firft, and the
latter will ferve as a comment upon the for-
mer, enter into his gates with thank/ giving ^
and into his courts with praife ; which I
think fully intimates to us, that when we
come into the courts of the Lord, we fhould
begin his worfhip with a fong of praife :
The reafon and nature of the thing fpeaks
the fame language i and points out the pro-
priety of beginning the worfhip of God with
finging, when we can with any conveniency
and decency of voices 3 for this duty devoutly
performed, has a powerful tendency to com-
pofe and folemnize the mind , and to raife the
affections, and thereby to fit and qualify the
foul, for all fubfequent parts of worfhip.
The thought I leave for the ferious confe-
deration of all, God's people.
But further, as finging is a part of God's
appointed worfhip, no doubt it aught to be
performed, with the moft decent and reverend
pofture of the body : For we are to offer unto
D God,
C 26 ]
God, in his worfhip, the body, as iv ell as foul
and fpirit, which are his. This duty is an
immediate addrefs to Cod, and that equally
-with prayer ; and why mould we not ftand
up to worfhip God, in this duty, as well as in
that; — unlefs want of health, or bodily
flrength prevent, which will equally warrant
us to fit in the duty of prayer, and no more
in one duty than in the other : Will any
object the fatigue and wearinefs to the body 5
fuch may do well to confider, that this was
the cry of old : What a wearinefs ! What a
wearinefs ! — And it is obferveable that their
character was none of the beft ; befides the
natural advantage of a {landing pofture in
this part of worfhip, as it gives play to the
lungs and advantage to the voice, there is
a moral reafon for it arifing from our obli-
gation to offer unto God our very felves (as
the apoftle expreffes it) both in foul, body
and fpirit, which is but our reafo liable fervice .
And now I will appeal to the common fenfe of
mankind, whether {landing in an immediate
addrefs to God is not moft becoming the duty .
We often read of their flanding up to fing,
and they flood up to praife the Lord in the
beauty of holinefs, &c. But no where as I
remember of their fitting down to fing forth
the praife of the Lord.
But further, it is a fair deduction from what
has been ftid of the ufe and end of facred
mudc
[ *7 ]
mafic ; that it fhould be performed with (kill,
and harmonious modulation of thevoice. The
fentiment is fully taught us in the text and
context, and in other parts of the holy fcrip-
tures. This part of divine worfhip of old
was performed with (kill and harmony of
the voice, and there was great care and
pains taken that it might be fo ; and to this
end was Chenaniah appointed moderator of
the facred fongs of the Lord : He was Jkilful
himfelf, and inftrucled others to be fo, that
this part of worfhip might be performed with
gracefulnefs and harmony. Now fkill in any
thing implies a rule, according to which that
fkill is to be exercifed ; and inflruclion fup-
pofeth, the being taught this rule ; and the
ufing and applying of it fkilfully to the pur-
pofe defigned. — So ringing in concord and
harmony, dr fkill in mufic, neceffarily implies
a rule, and that they perform it fkilfully. are
acquainted, in fome good meafure; with this
rule ; and apply it to the purpofe defigned,
with gracefulnefs of voice, and harmony of
found,
Mufic has its foundation in the nature of
things ; it takes its fife from the unalterable
proportion of Bounds one to the other;
all the variations of notes and changes of the
voice or inftrument in mufic, are frill depen-
dant upon the foundation, i . e. the invaria-
ble proportion o/jounds, It depends upon
as
C 28 2
as exact proportions, as any part of mathe-
matical fcience whatever, of which it is an im-
portant part. And therefore is pleafing and
edifying fo far, and no farther, than it is
compofed by, and performed according to
that rule, and exact proportion ; the farther
from it, the more diftant is the found from
muftc ; but the nearer to this, proportion, and
the more exatfnefs in performing, the more
excellent and charming the muiic ; and of
confequence the greater power and influence
upon the human mind ; and the greater ten-
dency to excite pious affection, and true de-
votion in the worfliip of God*
It hath pleafed the great Author of nature,
not only fo to form and conftrucl: the human
voice, as that it may be, in general, eafily
formed to the rule and fc ale of mufic, where-
by we are rendered capable of making melody
to God, with our voices ; but hath formed
in us, the curious organ of the ear, a faculty
whereby we arc capable of diftinguifhing the
fweet chords and accents of well proportioned
mujic, from the jarring notes of diflbnance ;
and to be highly delighted with the one, and
not lefs difpleafed and difgufted with the
other : For the ear tryeth founds, as well as
words ; therefore, that the facred mufic ufed
in God's holy worfliip, may be both pleafing
and edifying (for one it cannot be without
the other) it muft be performed with regular
exa&ne fs
• C 29 ]
exa&nefs of found, time and movement*.
As far diftant, as it is from this, fo much it
loofeth of its power and influence to pleafe
and
* In order further to illuftrate this thought, and to throw
light upon the fubjeel, I (hall favour the public with fome
critical remarks of my worthy friend and brother, Mr. Strong,
of Simfbury, the only author I had read upon the fubjeel, and
to whom I am indebted for feveral fentiments in this difcourfe,
though I truft I have fo far digefled them, and wrought them
into my cwn method of thinking and fpeaking, that they have
fo far become my own as that neither he nor others, can ac-
eufe me as a plagiary. 1 fhall therefore extract fomething from
his piece by way of marginal note, as it is wrote with great
j'uftnefs and ingenuity, and better exprefies the thought that I
am now confidering, than any language of my own ; but let us
hear what Mr. Strong fays upon the point ; he, fpeaking of
the ground and foundation of mufic, as founded in the nature
of things, takes this inference, " Is it true that mufic has its
foundation in the nature of things, and depends upon exact
proportion ; and as to its eiTentials always remains invariably
the fame ; then certainly the principal and fundamental rules
by which it is taught are alfo the fame in all ages. Whenever
therefore a regular attempt is made to reform pfalmody, it is
not to introduce properly a new way of ringing, but to xcco-
ver men from their errors, and to bring them back to practice
npon the only good old way : And whoever difapproves of,
•r oppofes fuch an attempt through diflike, does fo through
ignorance or fomething worfe. Yet this, notwithiianding, when
people have been long without a regular method of ringing in
the wormip of God, and have departed from it, it is not at
all to be wondered at, if many warmly oppofe an attempt for
a reformation^ through an averiion to innovations in matters of
divine worihip, and the more precife and confeicntious per-
fons are, the warmer their oppofition ; and yet all through ig-
norance or miftake : Such has always been the cafe with re-
fpec~l to reformations of all kinds, in things pertaining to re-
ligion or the worfhip of God.— Again, —Though the rule be
one and the fame, yet it may be differently applied, and as to
non-eiTentials, very perceptable alterations and variations may
take place, perhaps in all cafes ; for instance in finging, the
notes ufed in jnufic may be founded ilower or quicker, longer
or fhorter, being juilly proportioned, and the rule dTentuliy
C 30 ]
and delight the foul, and to excite it to, and
animate it in the exercife of true devotion.
Therefore from hence follows the importance
of acquiring (kill in facred mafic, that our
voices may be lifted up together in all the
parts of the facred fong ; and that with as
great exactnefs, and with as much harmony as
poflible* There are many pailagesin facred
fcripture, that reprefent God's approbation
of the fkilful and melodious performance of
this
the fame. In former times, the longeft note was to be founded
four times fo long as the longed now in ufe : So that although
it be eflential to good mufic that the feveral notes have their
proper founds* yet as to the length or continuance of their
founds, it is not of the effence of mufic, but of its circum-
ftantials, and may therefore be varied. Alfo with refpect to
keeping time with utmoft exaclnefs, in all the feveral parts of
the tune ; this is fo eflential to good finging* that it cannot
poflibly be good without it ; of the truth of this every one is
vvitnefs, who has any tafte for mufic : He quick perceives the
difagreement, and finds his ear wounded whenever it is want-
ing ; though others v/ho have not that tafte, difcern nothing
of it, and therefore are by no means competent judges in the
cafe. But the methods ufed to meafure and keep the time ex-
actly have been different, in different times and places ; and it
is but a circumftantial thing, what method or motion be ufed,
provided it be decent and well anfwer the end. The prefent
method of beating the time, as it is called, has been found the
moft eafy and exadl of any hitherto tried among us. The ex-
cellency and beaofy of mufic, and I add its tendency to anfwer
the purpofes of religion, much depend upon giving the founds
properly, and keeping the time with critical exaclnefs. All
the cavals and objections that can be thrown in the way, againft
regular finging, will go but very little way towards convincing
any one who has a tafte for mufic, and finds himfelf tranfport-
ed almoft to rapture, by its fweet harmonious drains, that re-
gular, well proportioned mufic has nothing in it preferable, to
the finging we have been wont to have, while we went without
xule."
C 3* 1
this duty of finging forth his praife ; I (hall
mention but one or two. When King Solo-
mon conveyed the ark of the covenant of the
Lord to the temple he had built for it, and
fat it in the deflgned place for its reft, he did
it with a band of mufic, the moft grand and
fublime that we have any accoant of; and it
is worth our notice, that when the fingers,
fang all as one, and when all the inftrumeni-
tal m-ufic coincided with the vocal, fo as to
become all as one, & e* in perfect concord
and harmony ; that then, and not till then,
the glory of the Lord rilled the houfe ; and
the cloud of glory which was the cymbal and
token of the divine prefence and favour, fo
covered the ark, and the mercy-feat, that
the priefts could not ftand to minifter, be-
caufe of the glory and perhaps becaufe of the
exftatick rapture of their fouls in holy de-
votion, 2d Ghron. v. 13. which fee, Sec. and
God has often appeared for his people and
given them fignal deliverances, in confe-
quence of the devout finging of his praife.
<c When tire fingers that were appointed to
go before the army of Ifrael, in the time of
Jehofaphat, when the Moabites invaded them ;
fang and praifed the Lord, faying, praife the
Lord for his mercy endureth for ever^ then
the Lord-appeared for them, and wrought a
great falvation." I might mention the in-
ftance of Paul and Silas, and other inftances
of
C 32 3
of God's gracious interpofition upon his peo-
ples, worfhipping of him with fongs of praife ;
but time would fail : All which intimates to us
thus much at leaft, that the blefTed God, has
always been, and is now, ready to give gra-
cious tokens of his approbation and favour,
to the exactnefs and harmony of this part of
his worfhip, when accompanied with gracious
exercifes of fpiritual devotion. And that in
this way he is ready to grant us the mercie9
we need, common or fpecial $ not that this
fkilful and harmonious finging the praifes of
the Lord, procures his favour, or moves the
heart of God towards us ; no verily, he is
infinitely and unchangeably difpofed to mer-
cy and kindnefs. But this exercife greatly
prepares and qualifies the foul for the receipt
of mercy ; all which confiderations fhould
be improved as a powerful motive to excite us
to qualify ourfelves for, and to take great care
and pains in the performance of this part of
God's worfhip, as well as in all others ; for God
is a God of order, and will be worshipped
decently and with order $ as well as in fpirit
and in truth.
But to conclude the thought, which indeed
has been carried through, and interwoven
with the whole difcourfe, we may obferve,
that this fublimc part of worfhip, of which
we are fpeaking, ought not only to be per-
formed with {kill, and with engaging melody
of
t 33 3
of the voice, but with grace in the heart, it
ought in all reafon^ to be a gracious melody ;
it muft be accompanied with fpiritual, warm,
and elevated devotion of the foul. This in-
deed is the primary end of the inftitutjon z
Though the outward regularity and beauty
of pfalmody is that by which God may be
vifibly glorified in the church $ yet the out-
ward eloquence of mufic in religious wor-
fhip is chiefly defireable, as it has a powerful
tendency to ftir up gracious affections, and
to promote the religion of the heart. There-
fore we fhould always have the moft folici-
tous concern,' that we not only fing graceful-
ly and mufically with the voice, but with,
grace in our hearts, making melody in our
hearts to the Lord ; that we may glorify
God in our fouls, bodies, and fpirits, which
are his : — However ufeful and necefTary the
former is, yet it is fo chiefly as a mean and
tendency to the latter ; for without this we
(hall fail of acceptance with God, and lofe
the fpecial benefit to our own fouls ; and in
the iflue be found, but as founding brafs, and
a tinkling cymbal ; and all our mufic be
turned into mourning, fad lamentation, mi-
fery and woe : But what remains is by way of
APPLICATION.
I. From what we have heard upon the
fubjecl:, we infer the manifeft reafon we have
thankfully to acknowledge, and pioufly to ad-
mire, both thb wifdom and kind nefs of our
E great
C 34 ]
great Creator, in forming us capable of fo ex-
cellent an art, fo divine an employ as that of
mufic, efpecially facred raulic, to be ufed in his
own worfhip. Our God it is that hath adjufted
the invariable proportion of founds, and giv-
en thefe chords of mufic power to flrike our
minds with the fvveeteft furprife, and moft
agreeable rapture ; he hath formed the ear,
and given us the fenfe of hearing, whereby
we quick perceive its force and energy — are
greatly delighted with it, and find it reach
inftru&ion to the heart ; and that it carrieth
our fouls to God, on the wings of faith,
love, and holy defire. — Surely then thefe no-
ble faculties, fhould not ruft with the talent
hid in the earth, by the flothful fervant, nor
be improved to the dilhonour of him who
gave them ; but in return for the favour,
they fhould be improved to his honour and
glory, in /inging forth his praife in holy me-
lody, and fpiritual Song.
II. We infer from the fubject, that vocal
praife fhould alio make part of our family
worfhip ; and every family ought to be ca-
pable of performing it with gracefulnefs and
harmony of voice, that is capable of per-
forming any focial worfhip at all ; it is true
indeed, that the deaf, the dumh, and the
idiot are excufed for want of capacity ; and
perhaps a few whofe voices are fo weakened
with infirmity or age, that they cannot join
in the focial praifes of their God7 which I am
fure
[ 35" 3
fure will be a great grief and burden to the
ferious and pious mind. And it is to be con-
fefled, that there is now and then one to be
found, who are in full ftrength, and of good
capacity for other employments, whofe
voices are fo ftubborn and unwieldy , as that
it is next to impoflible to form them to the
fcale of mufic, or learn them to fing any
part of the tune, let them take ever fo much
pains ; but this is not commonly the cafe. —
When this is the cafe with any one, it is his
unhappinefs, and he ought to be pitied ;
fuch perfons muft join their ears and hearts,
-in this part of worfhip, but not their voices.
But the beft matters of mufic tell us, that
there are but very few voices but what may
be tolerably well formed to the fcale of mu-
fic, on one part or the other ; and a fkilful
mafter will quick perceive which part the
voice is formed for, and will direct them ac-
cordingly . So it appears that but very few
indeed, can excufe themfelves, in the neglect
of the duty we are confidering, either in
public or family worfhip. The fame reafons
that inforce the importance of finging with
the voice of melody, in the public worfhip
of God, hold good with regard to the wor-
fliip of the family : — Has it a tendency to
excite devotion and to promote the religion
of the heart, in the public worfhip of God,
it has the fame tendency in the worfhip of
the family ; and Cod is glorified in the lat-
ter, as well as bv the former. No-w
I 36 1
Now what excufe can we make in the ne-
glect of this part of worfhip in the family I
The common excufe made, we have heard
is, in its own nature, criminal : — "We cannot,
we do not know how, we never learned to
fing, &c. This (unlefs the incapacity be na-
tural, as we have before obferved) is your
blame, your inability, your incapacity is of
a moral kind, in which lieth your blame. —
"Why have you not learned to fing ? And
why have you not taught your families to
ling forth the praifes of their God and Re-
deemer ? Have you not voices for other oc-
cafions ? And have not your children voices
to ufe in fin gin g wanton fongs ? And have
not both parents and children, as well as
others of the houfhold, capacities to learn
other things much more difficult to learn
than pfalmody -? Is not the true reafon why
you cannot manage a pfalm or hymn in the
family with decency and regular harmony,
to the glory of God, and your own comfort,
becaufe you will not afford yourfelves or chil-
dren time, and a little expence, that ye may
be able to fing together, and offer to God
this part of his worfhip. If this is the cafe
guilt lieth at the door, you will have to
anfwer for talents mifimproved, or hid in a
napkin, if you continue in the neglect.
When we confider with what eafe a tolera-
ble acquaintance with the fcale of mufic
may
[ 37 ]
may be obtained in this day, fufficient to
join in this part of God's worfhip, both in
public and in the family, with decency and
harmony : One would think that fhame muft
cover the face, and blufliing the cheek of
many, that neglect and difregard this duty,
upon the plea of incapacity. I have dwelt
the longer upon this inference, becaufe it is
of great importance ) if the people of God
would accuflom themfelves to finding; in their
family worfhip, they would foon find the
ufe of their voices, they would foon be ani-
mated to learn the rule of fmging, they
would foon find the comfort and enjoyment
of it, and we fhould foon fee an amazing
alteration for the better, in our nuific in the
houfe of the Lord.
III. But further we infer, that it is both
the duty and intereft of every one, and that
the obligation is binding upon all that are
capable of it, now forthwith to apply them-
felves to this noble art, and that with a view
to the glory of God, in the graceful and de-
cent performance of this important part of
his facred worfhip, that pfalmody may be
revived among us ; indeed this will have a
powerful tendency to revive dying ;md de-
caying religion among us, for we have heard
that facred mufic has a peculiar influence on
the mind of man, to foften the rougher
paffions, to calm the whole foul, and to pre-
pare
t 38 ]
pare it for the moft ferious meditations ; and
in this way to prepare it for the grace of
God in the operation of his holy fpirit, in its
converting as well as quickning influence.
It has been an old obfervation of the people
of God, that vital religion, the power of
godlinefs and pfalmody, have decayed and
revived together ; and cannot fome of us
witnefs to fomething of this fort within our
own obfervation : And is not this an argu-
ment of weight, to excite us all to the moft
vigorous attempts to revive declining pfal-
mody among us. And to this end it is great-
ly incumbent upon parents and heads of fa-
milies, to take all proper care and pains to
be qualified for the performance of the duty
themfelves, and to fee to it, that their chil-
dren and houfholds are put under good ad-
vantages to this purpofe : Have yon not fo-
lemnly covenanted with God, have you not
fworn before many witneffes, is not the oath
of God upon you, that you will train up
your houfholds in the admonition as well as
nurture of the Lord ? And God has appoint-
ed finging his praifes in a focial way, as one
method of admonifhing, Colof. hi. 16th.
St. Paul fays, admonijhing one another in
pfalms, hymns and fpiritual fongs : — You.
therefore have not difcharged this duty as
you ought, until you have made effectual
tryal of your capacity for focred mufic your-
felves,
C 39 3
felves, and given your children and others
under your care, opportunity and advantage
for it, where, and when, it may be had with-
in your power, But
IV. Let high and low, rich and poor>
chriftians of every denomination, ftation and
relation of life, be perfuaded to put to their
moulders in fo good a work, as the revival
of facred mufic : As it cannot be done with-
out labour and pains, and not commonly
without fome little coft, let thofe that have
voices, and can learn, efpecially the younger
part, take pains in this excellent art, and let
others, efpecially thofe that are opulent,
contribute to this good defign as God has
given themincreafe, and as the caufe may re-
quire ; whether they mean to learn or not,
that others may have all poflible advantage,
who may be difpofed to apply themfelves to
the bnfinefs of learning the art of mufic, to
be employed in the worfhip of God ; it is of
public utility, and a public fpirit will excite
to this., This is a flourifliing, opulent town,
and it would be no great burden to fupport
a free and open -fchool, for the learning of
facred mufic^a great part of the year ; and
were this come into, the whole town would
foon feel, and would quickly be convinced of
the general benefit ; it is much to your ad-
vantage at home, and to your honor abroad,
that you have not only made ample provi-
sion
C 4° 3
fion for the fupport of the public worfhip of
God in other parts of it, but have taken li-
beral care for the fchooling, and training up
children and youth at the public expence *.
And will you be wanting in this part of
inftruclion that demands fo little expence,
and is of fuch public and divine advantage I
I charitably hope you will not : If you would
have the fpirit of pfalmody make rapid pro-
grefs among you, let the rich and honorable,
perfons of diftinclion, of both fexes, engage
in it, as well as others, and let none be too
big to learn fo excellent an art, and fo fhall
your example redound to the glory of God,
and general benefit in this regard. It is no
difhonor to the moft dignified perfon among
us, to be engaged in facred mufic ; it is a
genteel accomplishment for the honorable of
both fexes, and has always been efteemed fo
by the wifeft and belt of men in all civilized
nations : It will recommend you as men ;
but how much more fo as chriftians ; it en-
larges the mind, it ennobles the foul, it fil-
leth it with refined fentiments, and turns out
from the mind low grovling ideas. But
above all, it is to the glory of God, and
ferves your be ft, your religious inter eft, and
will you not be perfuaded by this ? Are you
wore honorable than King David, are you
more
# There are three public fchools in Newbury-Port, fupported
with handfome falaries, befides a very considerable number of
private fchools.
C 4i 3
more refpectable than Chenaniah the chief of
the Levites : And they thought it no dif-
honor to make this facrcd muiic much of
their employ ; and in this heavenly art they
could inftruct others, and think it no ftoop,
no tarnifh to their honor. — Befides, ye rich^
ye honorable in this world, will ye not be
willing, by and by, to join ifTue, and fing
in con fort with thofe that are now beneath
* you, when they, leaving the church mili-
tant, mall join the church triumphant, and
eternally iing forth the praifes of God in
heaven • When perfons of diftinction, wealth
and honor, come to be engaged in fo good a
work, then there will be an open fchool or
fchools for pfalmody, upon a generous plan,
free for all denominations without diltinc-
1 tion ; and I cannot but natter myfelf, that
this will foon be the cafe : And are there any
Chenaniahs among you, that are able to in-
ftruct about the fong, becaufe they are fkil
ful, and are they willing to fpend their
ftrength, time and talents in the work, let
a fufficient number be employed in this bu-
frnefs, and let them have a reafonable, and
but a reafonable reward. Then, and per-
I haps not till then, (hall we fee facred mufic
1 generally revived, and God be worfhipped
1 in our religious affemblies with the fweetefl
1 harmony in fongs of praife 3 and our hearts
Ithereby be warmed with th* mod fervent
ol Idevotion, F A
C 4* 1
A thought or two more and I have done ?
How melancholy is it, that we fcarce hear a
female voice in our public worfhip of praife,
though they make up fo great a part of our
worfhipping afTemblies. — Suffer me, there-
fore, an addrefs, ye females of this large
and refpeclable affembly, efpecially to the
younger part of you : — For what did the
great Author of Nature throw peculiar fweet*
nefs into your Voices, as well as delicacy
in your general conftitution ? — Why did he
form it upon a different and fublimer key ?
Why has he given it the force of charm f
Was it to trill a loofe air, or chant a wan-
ton fong ; to excite defire, and to give fuel
to the loofer paflions ? — Surely no. — Was it
not rather that you might ufe the fweetnefs
of your voice in finging the praifes of your
God, and to the honour of your Redeemer ;
and that by a diftinct part of the muftc, in
the public worfhip ; you might add dignity,
foftnefs and the Jweeteft harmony to the fo-
lemn fong. It is worth your consideration,
that though the infpired apoftle feems to
have fhut your mouths in every other part
of public worfhip, yet he hath left them open
in this ; and will you fhut them in the only
part of public worfhip, in which you can
open them with decency, and to your own,
and others comfort and edification ? Will you
not improve tie liberty God hath given you,
and
f
C 43 ]
and in a peculiar manner fitted you fovy har-
mony of found, and to grace the worfhip of
his praife ; your imaginations are quick and
lively, and by induftry and application, you
may foon learn, in a good meafure, this ex-
cellent art 9 and lb your charming voices
(hall add beauty to, and give inftruction in
the worfhip of God. Had 1 time I migH
perfuade you to the duty, by many affecling
arguments, by the confideration of the re-
deeming mercy and dyinglove,by the bowels
of a Saviour, who wept, agonized and died,
that you might rejoice and fing ; I might
perfuade. you by the frequent appearances
of a gracious God, in difpenfing fpeciai lav-
ing mercy in anfvver to praife, as well as
prayer. — But I forbear.— Let me clofe with
a general addrefs, and perfuade all that can.,
to engage in, or promote facred mufic, by
the excellency and tendency of it, as it raifes
the foul to God, and excites holy defires af-
ter him, and the tokens of his favour, and
calms the foul, quiets the rougher paffions,
and prepares the mind for ferious medita-
tions, and for the re/idence of God by his
holy fpirit ; it muft be excellent ; and thus
it is an excellent antidote againft Satan's in-
jections and temptations, whether fubtle
wiles, or fiery darts. Sacred mufic is a bar-
rier to keep Satan out of thejffcul, it fhuts,
as it were, againft him each avenue to the
heart ;
C 44 3
heart ; mufic is in direct oppofition to this
fubtle adverfary, he cannot live where it is,
in any perfection, he muft flee before the
pious and harmonious mufic of the people of
God ; David's mufic could diflodge him
from Saul himfelf, where he had long pof-
i billon : So my friends, if you will unite in a
gracious harmony of heart and voice, you
fhall keep the devil out, or drive him from
your hearts, you fliall drive him out of town,
what I mean is, that ye fliall triumph over
his temptations, through the promifed aid
of him that hath loved you, and died for
you ; by this, every litigating party may be
foothed into love, peace, and harmony. —
Wrath, malice, evil fpeaking and backbiting,
thofe tools and engines of the devil, and
promoters of his kingdom, fliall flee before
vour united facred mufic ; while you meet
together for this heart-chearing, and love
and peace begetting and promoting employ :
Thefe angry, turbulent paflions fliall find no
place, for they fliall be foothed and huflicd
to filence, by the practice of this facred art.
The malicious heart, the angry paflions up-
on a flandcring backbiting tongue, fet on
fire the courfe of nature ; and are fet on fire
of hell. But the fofter and manly paflions,
love, peace, Jo y^ gratitude and friendship,
■j.ve fet on nre^K^raw/zV, and thereby neigh-
bourhoods and communities are cemented
in
t 45- J
m the bonds of love and affection. Theft
furely this heavenly art is worth taking fome
pains about ; it is a laudable ambition, to
flrinc in the knowledge and practice of it,
and by thefe arguments would I permade
you to the fublime employ. Butlfhall fhut
up the whole by turning your attention to
fome where between fifty and an hundred
motives, to learn and practice this excellent
art * ; there they are before you 5 and it
affords me no little pleafiire, to obferve that
thefe motives are, a number of them, of the
feminine, as well as of the mafculine gender :
-—How are we charmed when they fing in
confort, how does the fkilful, and divine mu-
fic thrill through every pore and vein j and
how are our fouls wrapt in facred devotion •
O what would the mufic be, how finking
and inftructive the harmony ; could a whole
affembly fing with like exactnefs. Go on
my mufical friends and profper, and may the
Lord be with you, and blefs you ; fee to it
that you get the melody of the heart, the
grace of God, and true fpiritual devotion
there , that from fweetly finging together
here, ye may join the church triumphant,
and the eternal anthem to God and the lamb
in the heavenly ftate. — And oh ! That the
facred fire may catch from n»an toman, and
J^ from
* Aboot the number of the ibciety of fingers, that were pre-
sent on the occafion.
t 4«'3
from houfe to houfe, until it burn to a glo-
rious flame. May the laudable ambition, to
learn this fublime art, fpread through the
whole town, and into the neighbouring
towns and parifhes ; and may there be ma-
ny Chenaniahs raifed up, who (hall in ft nidi
about live _ long, becaufe they are .fkilful.
Which may God of his infinite mercy grant,
through Jefus Chrift, Amen,
N
S.
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